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Man accused of spitting on Dearborn, Wyandotte hospital staff while in their care

A Lincoln Park man is accused of spitting on hospital staff in two locations to spread a virus amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Richard Kechego, 30, was arraigned via video Wednesday in Wyandotte’s 27th District Court on charges of threatening terrorism and unlawful use of a harmful biological substance, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office.

Kechego was being treated for coronavirus symptoms in a COVID-19 designated section of the Wyandotte hospital at the time of the assault. His test for the virus returned positive coronavirus two days after the incident, according to Wyandotte Chief of Police Brian Zalewski.

"Healthcare workers are under a great deal of stress, and despite risking their own personal safety, they continuously come to work every day in an effort to save strangers. Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable for a patient to attack them, not only physically but mentally, adding to their emotional distress, said Zalewski in a statement to the Free Press.

"For Kechego, knowing he was positive for COVID-19, to spit on and assault nurses and doctors who are just trying to help him, is in my opinion, absolutely disgusting."

Richard Kechego, 30, was arraigned via video Wednesday in Wyandotte’s 27th District Court on charges of threatening terrorism and unlawful use of a harmful biological substance, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office.(Photo: Wyandotte Police Department, handout)

Kechego also is expected to face arraignment via Zoom Thursday in Dearborn on a charge of unlawful use of a harmful biological substance.

Officials say Kechego was in the care of a Wyandotte hospital about 6:50 p.m. March 29 when he verbally assaulted, threatened and spat at several hospital staff members with the intention to infect them with a virus.

Prosecutors say later, about 4:30 p.m. April 16, he verbally assaulted, threatened and spat at a staff member in a Dearborn hospital with the intention of infecting them with a virus.

“It is hard to wrap one’s mind around this defendant’s alleged behavior, especially during these times,” she said. “If you are even thinking about doing something like this, know that acting on it is criminal behavior.”

In the Wyandotte case, Kechego was given a $50,000 cash bond and, should he post bond, will be given a GPS tether and house arrest, prosecutors said.

In the Dearborn case, Kechego is expected to be arraigned via a Zoom call in Dearborn’s 19th District Court on Friday.

Threatening terrorism is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Unlawful use of a harmful biological substance is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.